Let's help Jermain Taylor comeback

I think we should let him take EPO so he can actually go 12 rounds this time.

 

I'm a huge JT fan. The only time I ever rooted against him was when he fought KP. Even then i was sad when he lost the second fight. Worked his ass off, and put in one of his best preformances, and still lost. I was happy for Pav, but bummed for Taylor; bitter sweet.

In my opinion JT should drop out of the tourney, hook back up with Pat Burns, and fight 3 times in 2010. The first two should be Manfredo type fighters in 10 rounders. Step up just a bit in the 3rd one. Maybe Zuniga, Miranda, or some one of that caliber in a 12 rounder. He has to deal with punchers at some point.

And learn some God Damn defense Jermain!!!!

 

I think the kid is done man. He needs to really take time away from boxing, for his own sake. The past few times he's gone out have been uber-disturbing.

 

i'd like to think so, but he has absorbed some brutal KO's at this point. He's got money.... he's got his good name and hopefully his health. I wouldn't push it too far. I'd like to see him finish the tourney because he can still win titles and be a factor. But, it would be with an eye on health and if he were to get in any serious trouble over the course of his remaining fights, I'd toss in the towel and call it a career. Why try to walk away a punch or 2 too late?

 

I like Jermain for all the reasons you mention and if I could help him, I would help to to gracefully retire. Jermain has taken more damage than any other world class fighter I can think of in the 160 - 168 pound range in just two years - three brutal knockouts are a serious concern. At some point, brain damage accumulates so that even lighter punches cause real damage.

Jermain would have to reinvent himself as a fighter to get back to the top and that seems highly unlikely. For all his athletic talent and heart, he was never a mentally strong fighter in terms of ring intelligence and coolness when things get difficult. Jermain has never turned a fight around and I doubt he can turn his career around. His best effort in the last two years was a points loss to Pavlik, who fought the rematch with a broken hand and who is technically limited anyway. I don't see Jermain beat Ward, Dirrell or Abraham and even though Kessler has slipped, he still seems like a bigger, better version of Pavlik to me. Jermain would have to improve his defense, he would have to rely on something else than hand speed against Ward and Dirrell, who are both faster than him. I don't think Jermain has the type of intelligence required to significantly change and improve his game at his age. He could win a few confidence builders but as soon as he meets another world class fighter, he could get seriously damaged.

 

I think he will last the full 12 with Ward. I think the fight will be about 8 or 9 rounds in favor of Ward however. I don't see Ward knocking him out.

 

Taylor had a good run. Better then 99% of the boxers out there. But that run is over. I'd be all for supporting him if he had shown any sign of improvement in his last couple of fights but he has not. There is no reason to believe he can do better.

But he's getting one last chance to redeem himself against Andre Ward (if that fight actually happens).

 

My biggest problem is that JT looked just terrible in his last fight. There was a time when Taylor had every tool you need to humiliate Abraham, but he simply did not use any of them in their fight.

 

He just might surprise everyone when he fights Ward. It will be difficult for him to win a decision in Ward's home town, but if he can get by Ward's head butts, he can actually outbox Ward and make Ward look not so good, could stop Ward. Taylor needs to check out the judges and referee, then box with all his skills and experience.

 

I was thinking it was very possible for JT to stop Ward to but it'd most likely have to be before round 7. Ward has shown a pretty sturdy chin though. I'm sure Ward will be cautious and take Jermain into deep waters and win the majority of the rounds, probably all the last 4. However, Ward must remain focused throughout this fight and not let the hometown influence him to taking chances he normally wouldn't take. But if he survived Mirandas and Kessler's straight rights he should be able to maintain and neutralize JT's.

 

Taylor's punches will be quicker, he can jab, has power, esp. early. He has balls for his determination, and look at his experience. He has made mistakes, but if he can correct them, he can do it. Kessler had so many openings on Ward is was absurd, but Kessler did not take advantage, Taylor has the quickness to take advantage of Ward. Taylor will have to look out for Ward's referee though, headbutts could be a problem. Will Ward over look Taylor, esp. because of Taylor's losses and Ward's home town advantage? Taylor has the talent, skills to catch Ward, esp. early.

 

Problem is he was never really "destined for greatness." He was a guy who came in a pprety package so HBO slobbered all over him and with their backing he was able to get big fights and lucky decisions go his way against many guys he could barely hang with... and because of all that he took extreme amounts of punishment which have rendered him a very shop worn fighter by his early 30's.

The way this man has been concussed lately makes me worry that he's going to end up seriously hurt if he continues on fighting.

 

he's a real likable guy, i wish the best for him, but it just bugged me how he could not counter punch against abraham. i don't know what it was, he countered pavlik a few times in their fights, but he just didn't do it at all vs. abraham. he also backed straight up, i don't know what's up with boxers that do this. they've been doing it for years and years, but yet they continue to back straight up. i don't understand.

 

Jermain Taylor did have a chance to be a great middleweight. He beat Bhop twice. Although close, Hopkins didn't do anything significant to win the bout, especially the second fight when he was seeking revenge. He then had a helluva fight with Winky Wright, although I had it a draw, but it was very close. He had Pavlik out on his feet which would of been a huge win, and if he would have won Pavlik most likely would not have got a rematch. If a couple more breaks would have went his way (finishing off Pavlik, or lasting with Froch) we'd be looking at him very differently.